ES2735537T3 - Tobacco-free tobacco product without combustion - Google Patents

Abstract

A smokeless snuff-type tobacco product (1) comprising tobacco particles (20) obtained by grinding or pulverizing tobacco material, the tobacco product (1) mixes the tobacco-specific nicotine, which is generated from the tobacco particles (20), within the aspiration air, and supplies the nicotine with the aspiration air within the mouth of a user, characterized in that the tobacco particles (20) also contain at least one type of stabilizer ( CE, G, H) to stabilize the delivery of nicotine to the user; and said stabilizer (CE, G, H) has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter (Ra) with respect to nicotine is 12 or less, and the vapor pressure at a temperature of 25 degrees centigrade is 0.1 mmHg or less.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Tobacco-free tobacco product without combustion

Technical field

The invention relates to a combustion-free tobacco product that does not ignite to generate smoke from the tobacco product.

Prior art

Such a combustion-free tobacco product of this type includes a hollow suction support and a load disposed within the suction support and made of tobacco particles obtained by granulating tobacco material, and provides an air flow resistance of approximately 40 at approximately 80 mmHg (Patent Document 1).

According to Patent Document 1, when the tobacco product is used, or is aspirated by a user, nicotine which is one of the specific components of tobacco is supplied with the air drawn into the user's mouth.

State of the art document

Patent document

Patent document 1: WO2010 / 095659

Patent document US 5285798 A refers to a smoking article with an electrochemical heat source, which describes the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Patent document US 2005/0016550 A1 refers to an electronic cigarette.

EP 0270738 A2 patent document refers to a crushed work sheet sediment.

US patent document 2010/0065075 A1 refers to a method of manufacturing a fuel element for a smoking article.

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

According to Patent Document 1, the amount of nicotine discharged from the tobacco particles, namely, the amount of nicotine delivered into the user's mouth, is relatively rapidly reduced in proportion as the number of puffs increases. In other words, the amount of nicotine aspirated by the user changes greatly along with the increase in the number of puffs. The user, therefore, is not only aware of an annoying sensation during the use of the tobacco product, but also has the impression that the estimated usable period of the tobacco product (the number of puffs) is shorter (less) than anticipated

The invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the invention to provide a combustion-free tobacco product in which a supplied amount of nicotine that is one of the specific components of tobacco is stabilized for long periods, and greatly increases the number of puffs sufficient to satisfy the user.

Means to solve the problem

The above objective is achieved by a combustion-free tobacco product as mentioned in claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are mentioned in the dependent claims. The foregoing objective is accomplished by a combustion-free aspiration tobacco product of the present invention. Tobacco comprises tobacco particles obtained by crushing or spraying tobacco material, and at least one type of stabilizer to stabilize the nicotine supply of the particles. The stabilizer has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter from nicotine is 12 or less and the vapor pressure at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is 0.1 mmHg or less.

Due to its high solubility in nicotine and low vapor pressure, the stabilizer stably maintains nicotine and stabilizes the amount of nicotine supplied to the user for long periods.

For example, the stabilizer is selected from compounds that contain an ester group. The compounds are selected from medium chain triglyceride, triester citrate (triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, etc.), benzyl benzoate and ethyl laurate.

The tobacco particles may also contain an additive that has at least any one of carbonate and hydrogen carbonate, both commonly used in snuff products.

The combustion-free tobacco product can also comprise a heat source for heating the tobacco particles. In this case, the stabilizer has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter is 12 or less, and the vapor pressure is 0.1 mmHg or less at a heating temperature of the tobacco particles.

Preferably, the stabilizer has a content of 5 to 20 percent by weight relative to the dry weight of the tobacco particles. If the stabilizer content is less than 5 percent by weight, the required nicotine is not stabilized, while if the stabilizer content is greater than 20 percent by weight, the stabilizer causes the clustering of the particles. In these cases, the handling, specifically the manufacture, of tobacco particles is difficult.

Technical advantage of the invention

Since the combustion-free aspiration tobacco product of the present invention comprises the stabilizer in the tobacco particles, it is possible to stabilize for a long time the supplied amount of nicotine which is one of the specific components of tobacco, which is discharged from the tobacco particles

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a combustion-free tobacco product according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a measuring device to test the effectiveness of the stabilizers.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between the number of puffs and the amount of nicotine supplied, using different types of stabilizers as parameters.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between the number of puffs and the amount of nicotine supplied, using types of other stabilizers as parameters.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between the number of puffs and the amount of nicotine supplied, using the stabilizer contents as parameters.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the combustion type tobacco product without combustion according to an example of modification.

Best way to carry out the invention

A combustion-free tobacco product 1 of an embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises an axis A thereof, an upstream member 2, a tobacco cartridge 6, a downstream member 10 and a nozzle member 12, which are aligned along the axis A. These members 2, 6, 10 and 12 are joined together with a plurality of screws and connecting nuts 14.

For example, the upstream member 2 is a stainless steel blade with a thickness of 1 mm, and includes an open area 16 in its center. The open area 16 has an aperture ratio of 23 percent. Specifically, the open area 16 is formed of small openings with a diameter of 1 mm, and the small openings are uniformly distributed.

The tobacco cartridge 6 includes a frame member 18 made of stainless steel and having a thickness of 2 mm. The frame member 18 has an open portion with an internal diameter of 26 mm at its center. The open portion contains tobacco particles 20. The tobacco particles 20 have air permeability.

As is evident from FIG. 1, the tobacco cartridge 6 also has air-permeable nonwoven fabrics 4 and 8. The nonwoven fabrics 4 and 8 interlay the frame member 18 in between and thus prevent the tobacco particles 20 from falling off the frame member 18.

The tobacco particles 20 will be described later.

Like the upstream member 2, the downstream member 10 is a stainless steel blade with a thickness of 1 mm, and includes an open portion 22 with an internal diameter of 18 mm at its center.

The nozzle member 12 is made of Teflon (registered trademark) and includes a nozzle end 24. The nozzle end 24 protrudes from the face of the nozzle member 12 away from the downstream member 10, and has an internal diameter of 6 mm . An open portion of the nozzle member 12, which is located on the side of the downstream member 10, has an internal diameter of 20 mm.

In the tobacco product 1, when a user draws air from the nozzle end 24 of the nozzle member 12, the outside air enters from the open area 16 of the upstream member 2 into the user's mouth through the nonwoven fabric 4, the tobacco particles 20, the nonwoven fabric 8, the open portion 22 of the downstream member 10 and the nozzle member 12. When the air passes through the tobacco particles 20, the nicotine released from the tobacco particles 20 is mixed into the air, so that the user inhales the air containing the nicotine. The tobacco particles 20 will be described in detail below.

The tobacco particles 20 are made of a mixture containing particles obtained by crushing or spraying, wetting and heating tobacco material made from domestic barley leaf tobacco; and an additive made, for example, of at least any one of carbonate and hydrogen carbonate, or more specifically potassium carbonate. Tobacco particles 20 include 300 mg particles on a dry weight basis.

According to the present embodiment, the mixture contains the additive in 12 percent by weight relative to the dry weight of tobacco material. The mixture is prepared in such a way that nicotine, which is one of the specific components of tobacco, which is included in the particles, is 2.3 percent by weight with respect to dry weight, and that a volatile element included in the particles be 12 percent by weight with respect to the weight of the particles.

The nicotine content is obtained in steps of mixing 7.5 ml of 11 percent by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide and 10 ml of hexane in the 200 mg particles with a range of plus or minus 2.5 mg; Stir this mixture at room temperature for 60 minutes while protecting from light with aluminum foil, to perform an extraction treatment; and analyze a hexane phase by means of a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer.

The content of the volatile element can be found by a reduction in the weight of the particles of 200 mg with an interval of plus or minus 2 mg, which has undergone a drying treatment at a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius for three hours.

The dry weight is shown as a value obtained by subtracting the content of the volatile element found as described above from the weight of the particles.

In the case of the present embodiment, the tobacco particles 20 contain not only the above mixture, but also at least one type of stabilizer to stabilize the amount of nicotine supplied to the user. The stabilizer has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter between nicotine and the stabilizer is 12 or less, and the vapor pressure of the stabilizer at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is 0.1 mmHg or less. More specifically, the distance of the solubility parameter is an indicative index of the solubility of a solute with respect to a solvent, and is generally shown by Ra (MPa1 / 2). Ra can be found by a formula below.

where 5d, 5p and 5h are defined as a dispersion force, dipole interaction and hydrogen bond, respectively, of a solubility parameter.

To be specific, the stabilizer is selected from compounds that contain an ester group. The compounds include medium chain triglyceride, triester citrate (triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, etc.), benzyl benzoate and ethyl laurate.

TABLE 1 below shows the distances of the solubility parameter Ra and the vapor pressures at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius with respect to the above-mentioned stabilizers, together with those with respect to glycerin (A).

[TABLE 1]

Stabilizer C is a medium chain triglyceride consisting primarily of triglyceride caprylate, or more specifically, Coconard MT manufactured by Kao Corporation.

The distance of the solubility parameter Ra in TABLE 1 is a calculation result using Molecular Modeling Pro Version 6.01.

A measuring device shown in FIG. 2 to test the effectiveness of stabilizers B to H. The measuring device measures the amount of tobacco-specific nicotine supplied, which is fed from the tobacco product 1 to the user when the user aspirates the tobacco product 1.

The measuring device has a bubbler 26 containing 20 ml of ethanol. As the bubbler 26 a Kinoshita type wash bottle (standard type, 50 ml) manufactured by Kinoshita Rika Kogyo Co., Ltd. is used. The bubbler 26 contains inside filter particles (100 to 200 | jm), and is provided with a suction pipe 28 and a supply pipe 30 extending from its interior.

The tobacco product 1 to be tested can be connected to the suction pipe 28. The supply pipe 30 is connected to a suction pump 36 by means of an electromagnetic valve 32 and a mass flow controller (hereinafter referred to as MFC, by the English expression Mass Flow Controller) 34. A valve controller is connected electrically (abbreviated hereinafter VC, by the English expression Valve Controller) 38 to the solenoid valve 32. The valve controller 38 controls an opening / closing operation of the solenoid valve 32.

Due to the opening / closing operation controlled by the valve controller 38, the electromagnetic valve 32 can repeat the 1-suction cycle in which the suction pump 36 and the bubbler 26 are connected for 4 seconds, and then the bubbler 26 It is exposed to the atmosphere for 11 seconds. A flow rate of the mass flow controller 34 is set at 3300 cm3 / min.

As tobacco product 1 to be tested, a tobacco product of Comparative Example 1 is prepared, which contains neither glycerin (A) nor stabilizers B to H in the tobacco particle 20; a tobacco product of Comparative Example 2, which contains glycerin (A) in tobacco particles 20; and tobacco products of the embodiments, which contain stabilizers B to H in tobacco particles 20, respectively.

In the tobacco products of Comparative Example 2 and embodiments, the glycerin contents (A) and stabilizers B to F are each 15 percent by weight (45 mg) relative to the dry weight of the tobacco particles 20.

After one of the tobacco products according to Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and the embodiments is connected to the suction pipe 28 of the bubbler 26, the suction cycle described above is repeated 50 times in an environment with an ambient temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 60 percent. The nicotine supplied from the tobacco product is trapped in the ethanol contained in the bubbler 26. Subsequently, the ethanol in which the nicotine has been trapped is removed from the bubbler 26. The ethanol removed was analyzed with the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, in order to measure the specific nicotine of the tobacco by a 1-suction cycle (a draft), which is supplied from the tobacco product.

The entrapment and measurement of the analysis are carried out repeatedly until the total number of aspiration cycles reaches a given number of times. In this way, a measurement process is completed with respect to an individual tobacco product.

This measurement process is performed with respect to each tobacco product. The measurement results are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The tobacco products of the embodiments that include stabilizers G and H differ from those of the other embodiments in the following points. In the case of embodiments that include stabilizers G and H, the nicotine contained in the particles is 1.6 percent by weight relative to the dry weight of tobacco material, and the volatile element contained in the particles is 10 percent in weight with respect to the weight of the particles.

As is evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, in comparison with the tobacco product (which does not contain a stabilizer) of Comparative Example 1, tobacco products of embodiments that include stabilizers B to H prevent a reduction in the amount of nicotine supplied, which is caused by the increase in the number of puffs. This demonstrates that stabilizers B to H are effective in stabilizing the amount of nicotine supplied for long periods of time.

The tobacco product (glycerin A) of Comparative Example 2 does not differ significantly from the tobacco product (without stabilizer) of Comparative Example 1 in terms of reduction in the amount of nicotine supplied, which is caused by the increase in the number of puffs. In this sense, glycerin A is not effective in stabilizing the amount of nicotine supplied.

One possible reason for the above result is that the distance of the solubility parameter Ra of glycerin A is up to 23.0, although stabilizers B to H have a distance of the solubility parameter Ra of 17 or less, and a vapor pressure of 1 mmHg or less at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

The tobacco product containing the stabilizer F is lower in the amount of nicotine supplied than the tobacco product of Comparative Example 1, regardless of the number of puffs. This is due to a greater nicotine trap effect of stabilizer F (benzyl alcohol) compared to the other stabilizers B to E, G and H.

Therefore, in the case where stabilizer F is used, it can be considered that if the content of stabilizer F is set lower than the content of stabilizers B to E, G and H, the tobacco product containing the stabilizer F can supply nicotine, as well as the tobacco products of the other embodiments. This will be clarified by the descriptions below that explain the measurement results shown in FIG. 5. As is evident from FIG. 3, in the case of the tobacco product of the embodiment that includes stabilizer F, the amount of nicotine supplied tends to increase in proportion to the increase in the number of puffs. If such a tendency gives the user an annoying feeling and is therefore undesirable for the user, it can be considered that, as for a stabilizer such as stabilizer F which has a distance of the solubility parameter Ra 12 or less is too high its vapor pressure at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. In this regard, it is preferable to select a stabilizer having a vapor pressure of 0.1 mmHg or less at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

Based on the stabilizer D, tobacco products of the embodiments were prepared, which differ from the previously described embodiments in terms of the content of stabilizer D, and the measurement process was performed in the same manner with respect to these tobacco products. The measurement results are displayed together with a measurement result associated with the tobacco product that does not contain a stabilizer.

As is obvious from FIG. 5, as the content of stabilizer D increases from 5 percent by weight (15 mg) to 10 percent by weight (30 mg) to 15 percent by weight (45 mg), the amount of nicotine supplied decreases and only It shows a small change over a long period of time.

It can be thought that the same results are also applicable to the other stabilizers B, C, E and F to H, so that the content of stabilizers B to H can be set in a range of from 5 to 20 percent by weight . If the content is less than 5 percent by weight, a desired stabilization effect is not achieved with respect to the amount of nicotine supplied. If the content is greater than 20 percent by weight, the stabilizer causes the agglomeration of the tobacco particles 20, making it difficult to manipulate, specifically manufacturing, the tobacco particles 20.

If stabilizer F is used, if the content of stabilizer F is set lower than the content of stabilizers B to E, G and H, it is expected that the tobacco product containing stabilizer F will be able to generate as much supplied with nicotine such as tobacco products containing stabilizers B to E, G and H.

The combustion-free tobacco product may also include a heat source for heating the tobacco particles 20. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the upstream member 2 of the tobacco product has an electric heater 40 incorporated therein. While the tobacco product is being used, the heater 40 heats the tobacco particles 20 to a desired temperature by the upstream member 2, the nonwoven fabric 4 and the frame member 18.

In this case, the stabilizer contained in the tobacco particles 20 is selected from stabilizers characterized by having a vapor pressure of 0.1 mmHg or less at the heating temperature of the tobacco particle 20 and a distance of the solubility parameter Ra of 12 or less.

TABLE 2 below shows vapor pressures of glycerin (A) and the above-mentioned stabilizers at temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius, 70 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius, respectively.

[TABLE 2]

In TABLE 2, the vapor pressures at temperatures 70 degrees Celsius and 100 degrees Celsius are calculated by the following Clausius-Clapeyron equation.

P = POxe "'(L / R) x (1 / T O - l / T)

where P is the vapor pressure [mmHg] at temperature T; PO is the vapor pressure [mmHg] at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius; L is the heat of vaporization [J / mol]; R is a gas constant [J / mol * K]; TO is 298 [K] (25 degrees Celsius); and T is the temperature [K].

As is evident from TABLE 2, for example, if the heating temperature of the tobacco particles 20 is 70 or 100 degrees Celsius, it is possible to select the stabilizer C, D, E, G or H as the stabilizer.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be modified in various ways. For example, the stabilizer is not limited to C, D, E, G, H, as long as the stabilizer has a solubility parameter distance Ra of 12 or less and a vapor pressure of 0.1 mmHg or less. Alternatively, it is possible to combine stabilizers C, D, E, G, H arbitrarily. In addition, a configuration of the tobacco product is also not limited to that shown in FIG. one.

If a selected stabilizer has a vapor pressure of 0.1 mmHg at the heating temperature of the tobacco particles 20 and a distance of the solubility parameter Ra of 12 or less with respect to nicotine, the tobacco particles 20 can be heat up not only the heating temperature shown in TABLE 2, but also at any arbitrary temperature. Also, the method of heating the tobacco particles 20 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 6.

Reference marks

1: tobacco product, 2: upstream member, 4: nonwoven fabric, 6: tobacco cartridge, 8: nonwoven fabric, 10: downstream member, 12: nozzle member, 18: frame member, 20: tobacco particles, 20: open portion, 22: heater 40 (heat source)

Claims (7)

1. A non-combustion-type tobacco product (1) comprising tobacco particles (20) obtained by crushing or spraying tobacco material, the tobacco product (1) mixes tobacco-specific nicotine, which is generated by from the tobacco particles (20), inside the suction air, and supplies the nicotine with the suction air inside the mouth of a user, characterized in that the tobacco particles (20) also contain at least one type of stabilizer (C-E, G, H) to stabilize the nicotine supply to the user; Y said stabilizer (CE, G, H) has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter (Ra) from nicotine is 12 or less, and the vapor pressure at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is 0.1 mmHg or less. 2. The non-combustion suction tobacco product (1) according to claim 1, wherein said stabilizer is selected from compounds containing an ester group. 3. The combustion-free tobacco product of claim 2, wherein the compound is selected from medium chain triglyceride, tri-ester citrate, benzyl benzoate and ethyl laurate. 4. The non-combustion aspiration tobacco product (1) according to claim 3, wherein the triester citrate is triethyl citrate or tributyl citrate. 5. The non-combustion suction tobacco product (1) according to claim 3, wherein the tobacco particles further contain an additive having at least any one of carbonate and hydrogen carbonate. 6. The non-combustion suction tobacco product (1) according to claim 3, further comprising a heat source (40) for heating the tobacco particles (20) to the given temperature, wherein said stabilizer (C-E, G, H) has a characteristic where the distance of the solubility parameter is 12 or less, and that the vapor pressure at a heating temperature of the tobacco particles is 0.1 mmHg or less. 7. The non-combustion suction tobacco product (1) according to claim 1, wherein said stabilizer has a content ranging from 5 to 20 percent by weight relative to the dry weight of the tobacco particles (20).